Shopping Cart
A shopping cart includes a handle with a basket attached to the handle. A frame is attached to the handle and includes opposing sections. Each of the opposing sections of the frame include a first tier portion, a second tier portion and an inclined portion positioned between the first and second tier portions so that a caster lift is formed. A number of casters are attached to the frame. A cross wire is attached to the frame and is adopted to engage a caster lift of a second cart.
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This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/734,275, filed Dec. 6, 2012, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to shopping carts and, in particular, to a shopping cart that includes a rear caster lift, that may nest with dissimilar carts and that is economical to construct.
A first embodiment of the shopping cart of the present invention is indicated in general at 10 in
The handle features a generally inverted or upside-down U-shape so that a gripping portion 18 is formed at the top. A pair of rear casters 20a and 20b are attached to the bottom ends of the handle 14. A rod 21 and a bar 23 extend between opposing sections of the handle 14.
The trailing edges of sidewalls of the basket 12 are secured to the opposing sections of the handle 14, such as by welding or other fastening arrangements known in the art, while the trailing edge of the basket floor is secured to rod 21.
The frame 16 generally features a V-shape so that nose 22 is formed and the frame tapers to a narrower dimension towards the nose. A front caster strip 24 is secured to and traverses the space between opposing sections of the frame near the nose 22 so that front casters 26a and 26b may be attached. The trailing ends of the frame 16 are connected to the handle 14, such as by welding. A pair of generally Z-shaped supports 28a and 28b are attached to the bottom of a generally horizontal wire 29 of the basket and to the frame 16, such as by welding, to aid in supporting the basket 12.
A lower shelf, indicated in general at 32, is formed by a number of longitudinal wires 34, attached by their leading ends to front caster strip 24. A cross wire 36, the functionality of which will be explained below, is attached across the ends of the longitudinal wires 34 and to the Z-shaped supports 28a and 28b.
As illustrated in
The cart of
Both the handle 14 and frame 16 of the cart 10 are preferably formed from flat oval tubing, a section of which is indicated at 80 in
An alternative embodiment of the shopping cart of the present invention is indicated in general at 82 in
The construction of the embodiments of the shopping cart of the present invention described above offers savings with regard to materials cost. In addition, the caster lift design is very strong yet economical to produce. Furthermore, the cart is capable of nesting with other carts featuring both similar and dissimilar designs.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A shopping cart comprising:
- a) a handle;
- b) a basket attached to the handle;
- c) a frame attached to the handle and including opposing sections;
- d) each of said opposing sections of said frame including a first tier portion, a second tier portion and an inclined portion positioned between the first and second tier portions so that a caster lift is formed;
- e) a plurality of casters attached to the frame.
2. The shopping cart of claim 1 further comprising a cross wire attached to said frame and adopted to engage a caster lift of a second cart.
3. The shopping cart of claim 1 further comprising a cover over the inclined and second tier portions of each of said opposing sections of said frame.
4. The shopping cart of claim 3 wherein the cover is constructed of plastic.
5. The shopping cart of claim 3 wherein the cover is constructed of steel.
6. The shopping cart of claim 1 wherein the handle and frame are made of flat oval tubing.
7. The shopping cart of claim 6 wherein said frame further includes a nose portion connecting the opposing sections and wherein the flat oval tubing of said nose portion of the frame is oriented with a major axis that is generally vertical.
8. The shopping cart of claim 6 wherein the flat oval tubing is carbon steel.
9. The shopping cart of claim 1 wherein the basket features a wire construction.
10. The shopping cart of claim 1 further comprising a pair of supports positioned between the basket and the opposing sections of the frame.
11. The shopping cart of claim 10 wherein the supports are generally Z-shaped.
12. The shopping cart of claim 1 wherein the opposing sections of the frame are arranged to generally form a V-shape.
13. The shopping cart of claim 1 wherein said handle features a generally inverted U-shape.
14. A shopping cart comprising:
- a) a handle;
- b) a basket attached to the handle;
- c) a frame attached to the handle and including first frame section and a second frame section, said first and second frame sections each featuring a leading end and a trailing end;
- d) each of said first and second frame sections of said frame including a leading tier portion, a trailing tier portion and an inclined portion positioned between the leading and trailing tier portions so that a caster lift is formed;
- e) a plurality of casters attached to the frame.
15. The shopping cart of claim 14 further comprising a cross wire attached between said first and second frame sections to engage a caster lift of a second cart.
16. The shopping cart of claim 14 further comprising a cover over the inclined and second tier portions of each of said opposing sections of said frame.
17. The shopping cart of claim 14 wherein the handle and frame are made of flat oval tubing.
18. The shopping cart of claim 17 wherein said frame further includes a nose portion connecting the first and second frame sections and wherein the flat oval tubing of said nose portion of the frame is oriented with a major axis that is generally vertical.
19. The shopping cart of claim 14 further comprising a pair of generally Z-shaped supports positioned between the basket and the first and second sections of the frame.
20. The shopping cart of claim 14 wherein the first and second sections of the frame are arranged to generally form a V-shape.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 6, 2013
Publication Date: Jun 12, 2014
Applicant: Unarco Industries LLC (Wagoner, OK)
Inventors: Woody Smith (Stillwater, OK), Wesley McMurtrey (Wagoner, OK)
Application Number: 14/098,744
International Classification: B62B 3/02 (20060101);